Air conditioners are like cars: skip the basic maintenance and they’ll get you a while, right up until they strand you at the worst possible moment. The good news is that AC upkeep is simple, cheap, and split neatly into two buckets, the easy stuff you can handle, and the technical stuff worth a pro’s visit once a year.
Here’s the full checklist for a Newark home.
What you can do yourself
Every 1–3 months: change the filter
This is the single most important thing you can do. A dirty filter chokes airflow, drops efficiency, raises your bill and can freeze the coil. Check it monthly during heavy use; replace it when it looks dirty (usually every 1–3 months, sooner with pets).
Monthly in summer: clear the outdoor unit
Keep at least two feet of clearance around the outdoor condenser. Pull weeds, rake out leaves, and brush off grass clippings and that springtime cottonwood fluff that cakes the fins. With the power off, you can gently rinse the coil from the outside with a garden hose.
Seasonally: check vents and the thermostat
Make sure supply and return vents inside aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs, your system needs to breathe. If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, consider one; letting the house drift a few degrees warmer while you’re out cuts runtime and wear.
Watch the condensate drain
Peek at the drain line near the indoor unit now and then. If you see standing water or slime, the line may be clogging. A backed-up drain can shut the system down or cause a leak. Clearing it is sometimes DIY, but if you’re unsure, leave it to us.
What to leave to a pro (once a year)
An annual professional tune-up, ideally in spring before cooling season, is where the real protection happens. A technician will:
- Check refrigerant levels and look for leaks (a sealed system shouldn’t lose any).
- Test electrical components, capacitors, contactors, wiring, and tighten connections before they fail.
- Clean the coils (indoor and outdoor) for proper heat transfer.
- Inspect the blower and motor and check airflow.
- Clear and treat the condensate drain to prevent clogs.
- Measure performance to confirm the system is actually cooling to spec.
A simple seasonal rhythm
| When | Do this |
|---|---|
| Early spring | Book the annual pro tune-up; clear the outdoor unit |
| Summer (monthly) | Check/replace filter; rinse outdoor coil; clear debris |
| Peak heat | Watch for ice, weak airflow or rising bills, call early |
| Fall | Replace filter; if you have a heat pump, schedule a heating check |
Why it pays off
Maintained systems last years longer, run more efficiently (lower bills), and break down far less often. Most catastrophic AC failures we see were preventable, a worn capacitor that wasn’t caught, a slow leak that ran the compressor dry, a clogged drain that flooded a ceiling. An hour a year heads off almost all of it.